This Blog is dedicated to all things to do with Building Information Modeling.
I'll be blogging about challenges that I come across as BIM Manager as well as points of interest that are related to BIM. Blogs on tips and technical "How-too's" to help you out with creating your BIM models correctly.
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Monday, 6 February 2017

Is Germany ready for Building Information Modeling?

On
January 17, 2017 Scott Chatterton, International Building Information Modeling
(BIM) Integration Lead and Digital Design Leader for BIM Planning and Quality,
HDR, Inc. and Dereje Alemu, BIM Director at HDR TMK in Germany, together played
an active part in the advancement of BIM with their presentation at the “Future
of Building” at the BAU 2017 in Munich, Germany. The two HDR BIM
representatives presented the “Perspective of Global BIM Adoption” to a
compelled audience within an extraordinary setting of other well-known BIM
experts at the World’s Leading Trade Fair for Architecture, Materials and
Systems. Focusing on a better understanding of international approaches to BIM
and levels of BIM adoption that currently vary widely from continent to
continent, they presented crucial driving factors that have influenced BIM
adoption in North America, Australasia, Africa, the Middle East, and especially Germany. How ready is Germany
for BIM adoption? The two BIM experts were asked to share some of their
personal impressions on BIM adoption in Germany reviewing the event.

What challenges do you
see regarding BIM adoption in Germany?

Scott Chatterton: Germany
faces a number of unique challenges in the adoption of BIM. The challenge I see
especially in Europe is the diversity of BIM applications and software. As the
BIM software market develops in Europe the demand for a stable universal
platform, such as Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) will develop, currently we
are seeing issues collaborating on multiple platforms. This needs to be
resolved so as to facilitate collaboration. Cloud collaboration applications
may also be a solution to this issue as we are globally seeing an increase in
utilizing cloud technology in the collaboration process involving all parties
of the project.

Chatterton: Germany is
in a good position to take advantages of the lessons learned and the processes
already developed in countries that have already adopted BIM. Take a close look
at how BIM has had an impact on the workflow and the processes that were
developed as a result of BIM adoption in other countries such as the United
States and the United Kingdom. Companies in Germany can then utilize this
information when developing their own BIM workflow. By referring to these
proven methods you will be able to develop your own processes faster and
implement BIM quicker.

What
is your outlook for BIM adoption in Germany? When is Germany ready for “real”
BIM?

Chatterton: I personally
think Germany is ready for BIM now.“Real”
BIM won’t be achievable until more and more companies adopt BIM and are able to
collaborate together on a BIM platform, the rate of BIM adoption will increase
rapidly as the competitive advantages of BIM are realized. It is never too
early to adopt BIM. In fact, adopting BIM early will place your business at a
competitive advantage as the markets demand for projects to be completed
utilizing BIM increases. Now is the time to develop the BIM skills and
processes to position yourself as a leader utilizing BIM technology and
process.

From your German point of view, Dereje, what is your outlook for BIM adoption
in Germany? What is practically needed to push BIM broadly throughout Germany?

Dereje Alemu: Well, I am nearly as
optimistic as Scott Chatterton. Nevertheless, we need more obligatory practical
and theoretical training on BIM provided and pushed by universities and
architectural associations in Germany. Young architects arriving directly from
our universities should be used to work with the BIM method. In consequence,
this generation would be directly ready for BIM and practical BIM projects. Moreover,
this would push the change management in architectural companies, even in
smaller ones, to provide essential training for all of their staff bringing
them to a suitable level of BIM collaboration. Moreover, in Germany we need to
extend our existing structures of interdisciplinary collaboration implementing
BIM as this is a known requirement of “real” BIM projects. I personally think
universities and architectural associations can play a key role to accelerate
this aspect of BIM development, too. Finally, BIM is an investment for
architectural companies – but, I strongly believe it pays off.

About Me

Scott Chatterton is the BIM and Quality Control Manager for HDR|CEI. Scott has over 25 years of industry experience and has a long history of using Autodesk products as an architectural technician, Autodesk-certified AEC instructor, CAD manager, and now as a BIM and Quality Control manager.
Scott has experience as an authorized, certified Instructor of the Revit and AutoCAD product line, specializing in architectural design, and is currently a certified professional in both Revit and AutoCAD and building performance analysis.
Scott’s extensive knowledge enables him to create and apply efficient design and construction practices using the latest BIM technology and techniques. As a result of his experience, Scott is a sought-after author and presenter at BIM-related conferences, addressing ideas on BIM workflow, processes and protocols.
Scott is also on the board of directors for the Canada BIM Council, a member of the advisory board for various education institutions such as Thompson Rivers University, and a BIM adviser for Okanagan College, Southern Interior Construction Association, Athabasca University, and Vancouver College.